Synthesis of Higher Alcohols from Syngas over Fe/K/β-Mo₂C Catalyst

• Published in: Catalysis letters Vol. 136; no. 1-2; pp. 9 - 13
• Main Authors: Wang, Ning, Fang, Kegong, Lin, Minggui, Jiang, Dong, Li, Debao, Sun, Yuhan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.05.2010; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alcohols; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Cementite; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Iron carbides; Molybdenum; Organometallic Chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Pseudosteady states; Selectivity; Synthesis gas; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Fe/K/β-Mo; C catalyst; Higher alcohols synthesis; Syngas; Catalytic reaction; Hydrocarbon; Growth; Transition element compounds; Alcohol; Selectivity; Carbon; Synthesis gas; Promoter; Heterogeneous catalysis; Synthesis; Catalyst
• ISSN: 1011-372X; 1572-879X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10562-010-0288-1

Fe/K/β-Mo₂C catalysts were prepared by the temperature-programmed-reaction (TPRe) method and tested for higher alcohols synthesis (HAS). The catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity and selectivity to higher alcohols (C₂ ⁺OH). The effect of Fe/Mo molar ratio on the catalytic performance of HAS was investigated and the best one was at Fe/Mo molar ratio of 1/14. It could be concluded that the Fe promoter exerted strong promotion for carbon chain growth, especially for the stage of C₁OH to C₂OH. The “Fe₃Mo₃C” and “Fe₃C” phases formed over Fe promoted K/β-Mo₂C catalysts, which might be responsible for the high activity of higher alcohols and hydrocarbons synthesis, respectively. Graphical Abstract The typical change in CO conversion and selectivity of alcohols with time on stream over Fe/K/β-Mo₂C (Fe/Mo=1/14) catalyst is shown in Figure. After about 72 h, a pseudo steady state was obtained. During the experimental period (192 h), the catalyst showed a constant activity and selectivity. [graphic removed]